Numbers of Yangtze finless porpoise increasing

Shu Yin'an, head of a patrol team, shares his stories on conservation of finless porpoises. [Guo Jiewen/Xinhua]

From fisher to protector

When Jiangxi took the lead in implementing the fishing ban in key waters, it meant the province's many fishermen could no longer rely on fishing to make a living and must find new jobs.

So far 68,200 fishermen have been resettled, according to the provincial agricultural department.

Local authorities have hosted job fairs and offered free skills training for them to become qualified for new jobs or start their own businesses.

In addition, the local governments are tracking these people's employment status in order to provide help whenever there is a need.

Some fishermen have been hired to take care of porpoises in Hukou's temporary care base.

Others have chosen to join local patrol teams that help authorities fight against illegal fishing and rescue stranded porpoises. Hukou county established the country's first patrol team with such a purpose in June 2017, and Shu was one of the first fishermen to join.

"At first I was reluctant to join, as the work means I might confront some acquaintances," he said. "But my daughter encouraged me, saying it would be beneficial for the environment."

In good weather, he and other team members patrol by boat. On rainy days, they drive a vehicle along the shore. "As we used to be experienced fishermen, we know where the fish are likely to gather and where illegal fishing is likely to happen," he said.

In the past seven years, the 16-member patrol team has covered over 160,000 km on patrol, observed and recorded at least 5,200 sightings of Yangtze finless porpoises, and removed more than 30,000 kg of abandoned fishing gear and shrimp cages.

"My current job does not pay as much as before. But this job is more meaningful," he said. "Only when the environment improves can life get better for all of us."